Introduction to the Lance Missile System

This introductory film was developed and produced by the U.S. Army in 1985 to provide familiarization with the Lance field artillery missile system. It was intended primarily for future Lance system crewmen and was not intended to provide specifics on how the system was operated.

[@T010180]

Great to see this film. Brings back many memories. I was the driver of the SPL 1979-1980 in Havelte (Netherlands). It made me realize how much I still knew about it. Each year the Artillerie Museum takes part in the open museum day in september. At this time I'm still the only volonteer that can tell visitors about the Lance, SPL and the L&T. Love to do that...

[@Bill23799]

Thank you caster for showing this video. It brought back a lot of memories for me. As some of the other comentors here I was also a 15D20. I was a section chief in a Lance Missile firing platoon stationed with A btry 3rd Bn 79th FA in Giessen, West Germany at Rivers Barracks , also known as " The Zoo ". I think the narrator did a pretty good job here. He did make one error though. Did anyone else catch it? You did NOT remove the transport lockpin before elevating the missile. If you were on a slight downward slope and you removed the transport lockpin before elevating the missile there is a chance the missile could slide forward off the small guide rails. Then you would have a lot of explaining to do and one hell of a statement of charges to work off, haha. I PCS back to Fort Sill in June of 83 and spent the rest of my time in service as an AIT instructor at the Lance School ( Staff & Fac BN ). I am proud of the people I served with and i am happy the Lance was never fired in anger. I did participate in three ASP ( Annual Service Practice ) launches at NAMFI on the island of Crete. Missile away parties at Pop's restaurant down the road are a bit of blur due to consumption of Ouzo. Opa!!! Did you know the Lance went on to serve even after they were removed from front line service? Yes our remaining Lance Missiles with dummy warheads are used as ballistic targets to test our anti missile systems. Hello to all my fellow Lance Warriors.

[@edwinanglin4490]

#Bill23799...I was at the Zoo from 84-86. Bravo battery 3 of the 79th FA. Hardcharger sir!

[@AlanHirschenhoferII]

@@edwinanglin4490 A-Btry 3/79th, fire team alpha 80-82 @ the zoo. Good to see ya hard charger

[@edwinanglin4490]

@@AlanHirschenhoferII ...those were some great years. I miss them very much. Hope everything is going well for you.

[@Grug420]

I was in Service BTRY 3/79th from 84-88

[@JohnStark72]

I was stationed outside Wiesbaden at Camp Pieri in 1973. We started as the 5th of the 77th, packing the Sergeant, but converted to 1/333 FA in a few months. We were the first Lance unit in Europe.

[@AlanHirschenhoferII]

3/79th A-Btry here. Track driver. 80-82 before I switched my MOS from 15D to 54E. Two trips to Crete from the Zoo in Geissen. Does anyone remember a firing pit? We were deployed in a 360° defensive position about 75 yards during launch in the woods or field. Thanks for posting, good times...

[@veteranhoffman6776]

15D10/11B , C Btry 6BN/33FA 1st Firing Platoon, 1983-1986.

[@michaelrussell499]

I started with 6/33 when it was activated. Moved up to the HQ 9th Group over 6/33 1/12 3/9. Good times

[@50buttfish]

I grew up with Nike Hercules & Zeus near my home; I lived with Pershings in mid-70s; realizing there ARE a whole bunch of other missiles. This one appears to be a "bullet with a motor".

[@biker1950ful]

when I was a ATT chief. It was 5th Corps goal, that each fire section be able to fire two rounds in less then 45 min, that includes travel to a new fire point in between launches. With a Bn firing all 8 launchers it could have put 16 rounds in the Air in 45 min or less

[@macmcneil5478]

41st ord Det. Stock ammo clerk Lance missles 1981-1984

[@jeffW1971]

64th Ord Co, 1990-1992 nuke tech. we maintained these warheads.

[@beautifulfouse]

I was on Fliegerhorst Kaserne outside Hanau Germany. Ours were all ready all the time during the cold war. They were in various places in Germany. All Nuclear as the main cold war deterent in Europe. Was a good system for a one time last resort that I think made Russia stay in place.

[@brianstephens3236]

Bravo Battery, 1st Fire, 1/32 FA, 1989-1991.

[@Billy-ce2yq]

A battery 3/79 field artillery.1986-1988

[@CRH.Williams]

Takes aeons of work to get it ready to launch

[@well-blazeredman6187]

Yep - not quite a Formula One pit-stop. But an interesting video.

[@vonvomit5666]

You know what, I read some of the comments here. And sadly, some are right about the time needed to set the system up and fire. Fact is, compared to todays missiles and artillery these old systems were dangerous, easy to track, and easy to employ commando teams to take out firing units one by one or a whole battery at once. Todays artillery and tactical missiles out range these old systems, are quicker to deploy, and require less manpower to operate. I remember when I was stationed in Germany serving with self propelled guns it took upwards of 15-30 minutes to get the battery laid, and ready to fire. If the guns were doing a hip shoot, it would take app 10 minutes to get rounds down range. Now compare that with the newer paladins rounds are sent down range quicker, and more accurately with less time needed to lay the battery and fire rounds. No offense to the people who served on these systems during the 70, 80 and 90s , but field artillerys life span on the battlefield would have been less than most would have liked. 1983-1984, 3rd 16FA Baumholder FRG, 1985-1989 2/29FA Baumholder, FRG.

[@CM-ve1bz]

No offense taken. It was common knowledge that the life expectancy of a Lance crew was one mission. If for no other reason, the big black streamer it left on launch was like a giant finger saying here they are. Hanau 74 - 76

[@josephhudson8829]

2/78 FA 1st Armoured Division Bamberg Germany Lt.Col Tommy R Franks Commanding 83-85

[@charleshemphill7619]

Svc Btry 3/79 FA Rivers Barracks The Zoo 77-80 and 81-84 SGT Hemphill

[@CatawbaConvertiCoop]

Did the narrator only get the script seconds before they sat him down in front of a microphone?

[@billbutler6926]

I hate smart phones and their spell check. And it is more powerful than a MP!

[@Bill23799]

" We have a GO in Lunch "

[@AudieHolland]

Wooooowww... How about the quicklaunch 'emergency' procedure? This thing takes about a day to load, half a day to set up for launch during which enemy commandoes will have ample time to have breakfast, cook water for coffee or tea then take out one or two crewmembers during the hoisting operation after which the missile spins out of control while the crane operator ducks for cover. It's a good thing they have clear daylight and nobody shooting at them or shelling them, else their precise calibrations could go wrong.

[@billbutler6926]

You are an ass. I was a Lancer. It took us ten minutes to put one together. The loader transported carried two and the launcher carried one. The Battery area took about an hour to set up. Talk about some thing you know about Asshat! The Russians in Germany were treated to training units in the field that took long periods of time to set it all up because it was done by the book word for word. The Soviet Military Mission in USAREUR often took pictures of us and let em. Thanks for letting us know it worked you brain dead worthless POS!

[@majorjockitch]

Yeah because they never trained to deploy this system , and this isn't a video introducing the system. Like everything else , a good crew trains and learns together until they can damn-near do it in their sleep. The launch sites weren't exactly fixed , kinda the point of the tracked mobile launcher , plus there was no designated dumbass to call up "commandoes" and let them know exactly where they are , and uh , last time I checked , we have some fairly decent "commandoes" ourselves. If you assume these guys were just standing in a wal-mart parking with absolutely no support , well , here's your sign , you've earned it.

[@Gold469]

Goes to show who does and does not know what they are talking about. The average setup and tear down time (from the time you stop the vehicle to the time you drive away) is usually less than 30 minutes, and faster the more your team practiced. We could have another missile on the launch truss in in under 5 minutes (again from the time you stop the vehicle to the time you drive away). These missions we day night rain snow made no difference. Lance missile was an all weather system. I am going jump out on a limb here and say you probably never seen on of these systems up close, or stood by and watched one go down range. So take the time to speak of what you know and not what you don't (you'll sound smarter in the long run). SGT 15D20 Lance Missile Section Chief.

[@billbutler6926]

+Gold469 100% on point!

[@claygrayson7389]

Really? Seriously dude, I think you need to stick to talking about things you know. This obviously isn't one of those things. As Bill Butler and Gold469 have stated, it took very little time from vehicle stop, to launch, to tear down and scoot. I was Lancer....1st Fire, A-Btry, 1/12th FA. I drove that vehicle! Re-arming after meeting up with the ATT team was damned fast.Pull in, lower and secure, move out. We HAD to move FAST.